The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-07-23
oeNulhE RusslA IRON.
How m American Discovered the Scores
Process by which It IL Made.

How m American Discovered the secres
Process by which 1t IL Made.
A romantic story was developed by
the initial steps Of building q Russian-
iron mill at Freeport, a small town
thirty miles north Of this city. The
towns people donated the site and
$1,000 to firm to build there. One Of
the firm related to the correspondent
the following story:
"'This will be the first Russian-iron
mill ever built outside of Siberia. An
imitation of Russia iron has been made.
in this country for some time, but 1t is.
not impervious to rust. 1mpervious--
ness to rust is the crucial test of genuine,
Russia iron.
"There is little history connected
with the introduction of this industry
into America. Few persons imagine,
what n risk was run in learning the.
secret of the treatment by which Russia,
iron is made. There are but three pco-.
pie outside Of Russia to-day that know
this secret They are: Mr.. William.
H. Rogers, his father, and his nephew.
Mr.. Rogers came into the possession Of
the secret in this way;
"About eighteen years ago he was
sent out as Pennsylvania State geologist
to Russia. He had credentials adj
dressed to Ex-Governor Curtin, the
Minister at st. Petersburg at that time,
and was received with great pomp and
ceremony by Princess Demidoff, in
whose Siberian mines he was ostensibly
to carry on his geological investiga--
tions. The Princess attended him in
person on his long journey. five hum
dred miles, into the Ural Mountains,
and treated the American geologist.
with all the imperial courtesy accorded
to the most distinguished foreigner.
The Russian mobiles, too, took great,
fancy to Mr.. Rogers, and insisted that,
he should purchase few million acres.
of land-in Siberia million acres is.
but trihe-and establish an American
colony. Mr.. Rogers said he hadn't the
money.
$50, it won't take much,' they said;;
a few million dollars would answer the
purpose
''The offer, however, was declined as.
politely as possible, without letting the
nobleman know that it was altogether
possible for Pennsylvania State geolo-
gist to be as poor as the proverbial
Jobs turkey.
! "As long rs Mr.. Rogers confined his
explorations to the mines he attracted
little or no suspicion, but as soon as he.
set foot inside the iron mills of Princess.
Demidoff he was subjected to the most.
vigilant espionage. Itmust be remem--
bered that all the men in these mills
who know the secret of making Russian
iron are never allowed to quit the mines.
1t is difficult for Americans to UNDER
stand how this is, but to any one who,
has seen the inside workings of such a
despotic government as Russia is, t.,
matter is perfectly plain. All who pass.
to and fro from Siberia are vised and
vised again at thousand different.
points, and the slightest suspicion is
enough to warrant travellers deten--
ton.
Zone day Mr.. Rogers was making an
inspection of the iron mills, when he.
overheard one of the foremcn say:
''That's queer kind of a geologist.
I have MY suspicious about him."
"Mr. Rogers was not long in making
his arrangements for bidding the de-
lectable land of Siberia final farewell.
With the special study he had made of
iron-making before going to Russia, he
was not long in discovering the much
coveted secret, and came home delight
ed with his experience as State geolo-
gist. ."-Pittsburgh Dispatch.